All posts by Justin Levitt

The AP Bulks Up in a Big Way on Redistricting

October 17, 2014, 10:32 amredistrictingJustin Levitt

With four different stories. Juliet Williams describes the structure of redistricting in the states that take the process out of the hands of the legislature – an issue up at the Supreme Court this year, in a case out of… Continue reading

“The Undemocratic Flaw In This State”

October 17, 2014, 10:31 amredistrictingJustin Levitt

A college junior weighs in on redistricting in Maryland, with more sophistication than I see from an awful lot of more experienced analysts.

“Who’s Afraid of ‘Rocky Mountain Heist’?”

October 17, 2014, 10:31 amcampaign financeJustin Levitt

That’s the question Michelle Malkin asks in a new post on the new Citizens United case in Colorado.

Money in Politics as a Campaign Issue

October 17, 2014, 10:31 amcampaign financeJustin Levitt

Paul Blumenthal thinks that the issue is getting more prominent debate this cycle, particularly in Senate races, than it has in the past.

“Voting Rights Advocates Say Florida Should Lift Restrictions on Felons Voting”

October 17, 2014, 10:31 amfelon votingJustin Levitt

A report in the Sun-Sentinel.

“Justice Minister Red-faced Over Alleged Election Law Violation”

October 17, 2014, 10:30 amcampaign financeJustin Levitt

Just for perspective: a report from Japan. First, that an official could be “red-faced” at all over an election law violation. But second, on the allegation itself: that an official broke the law against giving “goods of a certain… Continue reading

A New Way to Sort Through Ballot Propositions

October 17, 2014, 10:30 amdirect democracyJustin Levitt

California is (in)famous for its direct democracy, with a hefty portion of each cycle’s ballot devoted to initiatives that are often long and complicated. Here’s a new way to understand what’s what: video reviews of the major arguments pro and … Continue reading

The Impact of Top-Two

October 17, 2014, 10:29 ampolitical parties, political polarization, primariesJustin Levitt

KQED spends an hour on the consequences of California’s top-two primary.

“Voter Primacy”

October 17, 2014, 10:29 amcampaign financeJustin Levitt

Professor Sarah Haan compares the informational interests of voters and shareholders in corporate campaign finance disclosure after Citizens United.

“In Defense of Private Civic Engagement”

October 17, 2014, 10:29 amcampaign financeJustin Levitt

Nick Dranias, in turn, looks into a right to anonymity. The right to private civic engagement — the right to participate in politics confidentially as an individual or in association with others — is under assault as the product… Continue reading

The “Esquire” Commission to Fix Congress

October 16, 2014, 3:02 pmpolitical polarizationJustin Levitt

I’m not kidding. Tom Daschle, Trent Lott, Bob Livingston, Barney Frank, Alan Frumin, Lawrence O’Donnell. Gentlemen of distinction, all. With “22 simple reforms that could #fixcongress right now.”

“Voter ID Firebrand Takes a Low-Profile Kansas Office Out of the Shadows”

October 16, 2014, 2:58 pmelection administrationJustin Levitt

The New York Times profiles Sec. Kris Kobach.

“Phila. Ethics Board Tightens Campaign-Finance Rules”

October 16, 2014, 2:57 pmcampaign finance, UncategorizedJustin Levitt

Philadelphia municipal rules now consider the reuse of campaign-produced materials to be an in-kind contribution. You might remember this controversy from such episodes as #McConnelling.

“Voter ID Facts and Motivation: Easterbrook v. Posner”

October 16, 2014, 2:52 pmelection administration, election law and constitutional law, The Voting Wars, voter idJustin Levitt

Bauer finds the difference between Judges Easterbrook and Posner (and the difference between Crawford and the instant Wisconsin struggle) to be their consideration of legislative motive. Maybe. But I think there’s (perhaps also) a difference between the quality of the… Continue reading